Time-controlled thermostatic switch



F. S. DENISON TIME CONTROLLED THERMOSTATIC SWITCH May 13, 1924. 1,493,739

\ Filed April 23 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /n/yE/YTOR /fEDfH/CK 5. Dfw/som A75 WOR/Yin:

May 13 1924.v 1,493,739

F. S. DENISON TIME CONTROLLED -TI'IERMOSTA'IIC SWITCH Filed April 25 192] 3 Sheets-Sheet .2 8+ 55 /c/'/, 5%

(55 ZZ/d //A//A/A/x//////////////// @M WWP May 13, 1924. 1,493,739

F. S. DENISON TIME CONTROLLED THERMOSTTIC SWITCH Filed April 23. 1921 5 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 hereinafter Patented Muay 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES rATEN-ToFFicE.

FREDERICK S.`DENISON, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTL'ASSIGNOR TO MINNEAPOLIS HEAT REGULATOR CO'MPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

TIME-CONTROLLED 'rnEnMosf-rarrc swrron.

Application led April 23, 1921.- Se-rlal No; 464,017.

T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. DENI- soN, a citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements' in Time-Controlled Thermostaticf Switches, of which the following is a specification.

vThe object of my invention. is tol provide a temperature controlling device having day and night circuits with means for automatically shifting the control-from one circuit to the other to the end that` no manual adjustment will be required to set the instrument for day or night use;y Usually in devices ofthis kind where a time lmechanism is employed for shifting the contacts of the thermostat from a night to day temperature, manual adjustment is necessary at some time, either night or morning, ,to set the instrument for the temperature desiredy for the succeeding period, no attempt being made to automatically adapt the instrument for both night and day service.

- My invention contemplates an apparatus of simple, inexpensive construction which,

when once set for the desired periods of change, will operate from day to day automatically, changing the thermostat back and forth for day and night service without any attention onjthe part of the operator except to wind the timer at predetermined intervals.

My invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In thev accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l -is a front View of a thermostat embodying my invention, the time apparatus being in section,

Figure 2 is a rear view of the same;

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Figure 5;

lFigure 4 is a side elevation of Figure 3, showing the timer mechanism;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Figure 4*;

Figure 7 a sectional view on the line 7--7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a` side view of the timer l mechanism with a portion ofthe 'wall of the timer broken away;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view, showing the manner of mounting the timer on the casing of the thermostat;

Figure l0 is a detail sectionalview illustrating the manner of disconnecting the thermostat controlled mechanism from the driving shaft of the timer;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view, showthermostat;

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view of ing the circuits between the timer and the the day thermostat bar, showing the manner of mounting and adjusting it; v

Figure 13 is a sectional view on the line 1313 of Figure 12;

In the drawing, 2 represents thebase of the thermostat, having a casing 3 at its lower end, circular substantially in form, .forming a socket into which the timer mechanism is inserted, as will hereinafter appear. The thermostat is provided with thermostatic bars 4, and 4, each bar having a pair of contact` posts 5 and 5 arranged pref-A erably between the thermostatic bars near the middle portion of the-base. Each bar is provided with finger grips-6 and 6a and dials 7 and 7'* adapted for limited movement with respect to indicator hands 8 and 8f; When these linger grips are rotated, the thermostatic bars will be shifted to adjust them relatively to the graduations of the dials.

Referring to Figure 12, I prefer to mount the thermostatic bar 4 on an oscillating stud 4 that is supportedbetween the arms of a bracket 2 secured to the base 2. A forked plate 7 is mounted at one end of the stud 4 and a cam 6 is tted between the arms of-the fork and is mounted on a stud 6 thatl is j'ournaled in the arms of the bracket 2. The'finger grip 6 is mounted on the stud 6" and when this stud is'rocked, the cam 6 will be oscillated to move the plate 7 horizontally on the stud 4 as a. center. This movement will, of course, Shift-the bar 4 and change' its position with respect i 20 ing to the degrees of temperature.

provide means of adjustment Without shi/ftin this thermostatic bar and I accomplishthis by mounting the plate 7 on the stud 6 and providing a slot 7 in said plate through which is inserted a screvy7 7". The tongue 8, mounted on j one end 'of the bracket 2, overhangs the edge of the plate 7 opposite the graduations thereon. When, 10 therefore, it is desired to set the instrument, assuming that it has gotten out of adjustment for some reason, the operator will allow the thermostatic bar to contact with one of the posts, assuming that the room is v at the desired temperature.y Then the oper- A connects lthe bushing 10 with the -line or battery circuit, preferably at the point indicated by 1'4. A conductor 15 connects the bushing 11 with the thermostatic bar 4 and a con'- ductor 16 connects the bushing 12 with the thermostatic bar 4a. Conductors 17 .connect the opposite contact posts5 and 5ft.` Coniductors 18 and 19 lead from the contacts 5 and 5 to the motor 20 and a conductor 21 leads from .themotorlthrough a battery B Atol the conductor 13, thus making anefi'ective circuit for each bar controlled by the operation of the timer.

The clock or timer comprlses a frame 22 adapted to t snugly Within the casing 3.

45. The forward portion of said timer has, the

usual dial 23 and clock hands, not shown, in

the rear of Which is the usual train of gears or clock mechanism terminating in a shaft 24 provided with a driving pinion 25. The

shaft 24 is driven from the spring barrel and the pinion 25 has no direct connection with the hands of the time piece. The gear ratio is such that the pinion will travel in I unison with 'the hands, but being driven from the spring barrel, does not impose a load or burden on the hands andthe attendant gearing, Which might interfere with the time-keeping qualities of the clock.

o A post 26, having a socket 27, is mounted lon a stud 28 fastened by a ange 29 to the clock casing 30. The post 26 supports a 4gear 31 which meshes with the pinion-2 5V and is driven thereby and'is capable of both longitudinal and rotary movement on the stud 28,

but is normally! held in its working position,

to the contact posts. i I prefer, however, toy

's indicated in Figures 8 vand 10 by means of a compression spring 32. ,f The outer end of the post has a stud 33 on which is mounted a dial 34, and a finger` grip 35 is mounted onv the outer end of the stud 3'3'to be grasped T0 by the operator for the purpose of moving the post 26 lengthwise to disengage it from the pinion 25, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 10. l/Vhen the gear'31 has been disengaged from the pinion 25by the-outward 75 movement of the post, the operator may turn or rotate the 'post and dialand set the dial so that the figures thereon will synchronize with those on the dial of the time piece. This dial has figures thereon corresponding, to the figures of the clock dial, being divided into an A. M. and P. M. group, as indicated in Figure 2. 'Day and night indicator hands 36 and 37 are mounted on -the hub of the dial 34 for rotary adjustment thereon over the 85 v figures of the dial and are clamped Vin any desired position by means of the threaded thumb nut 38 and spring Washer 39. rfhese indicator hands have cam extensions 40 and 41 which are bent around the peripheral edge 90 of the dial and extend beneath it as indicated in Figure 8, and When the indicator hands are adjusted on the dial, the cam extensions or surfaces of the hands will be moved also and adjusted to the position of the dial l where the operator desires the shifting movement to take place.

The frame of the timer has circuit closing plugs 42, 43 and 44, and these plugs are positioned te enter the sockets in the bushings 10, l1 and 12 when the timer kframe is thrust into the casing on the base ofthe thermostat. A switch lever 44"L is pivoted at 45 on the thermostat frame and is provided at one end with an anti-frictionroller 46. This roller has a stud which projects through a slot 46. in the frame .22 and is mounted in the end of the switch lever 44a.

A block 47 is mounted on the lever 44a .adjacent to its pivot and insulated therefrom by a suitable non-conducting coupler 48. The block 47 has a recess 49 therein and an arni 50 is pivoted at 51 in said recess and is provided With a tongue 52 havingicontact surfaces 53 between contact screws 54 and 55.

'A tension spring 56 hasone end connected at 57 to the block 47 and its other end 4attached at 58 Within a recess in the arm 50, said spring bridging the Vpivotal connection 51 between the block and arm and forming therewith a switch device for alternately contacting the surfaces 53 With the screws 54 and 55, according to the direction of oscillation fof the arm 47. When the switch lever is oscillated the spring 56 will be swung from one side to the other of the pivot 51, moving the contact surfaces 53 into engagement With the screws 54 and v55. The tension of the spring will effect a quick break of the circuit, allowing-the contact to continue or night contact. A conductorv 60" connects the line with the arm 47 and 4is insulated by the coupling 48 from theframe, so that the circuit passes from the line through the conductor 60, the block\47 and the arm 50 to one or the other of the contact screws 54 and 55, ldepending on thevposition ofthe arm. This position of the arm will, of course, depend upon the movement of the switch lever 44a, and roller 46 of which is positioned beneath the dial in the path of the cam arms and 41 (see Figure 6). When, therefore, the dial in its. rotation has brought the operating hands in position to actuate the Alever 44, it will be osoillated on its pivot and the switch shifted from one contact to the other and thereby the thermo- V,stats will be automatically changed from --"night and day use or vice versa, without any attention or manual adjustment other than to see that lthe time piece is properly wound and adjusted for the hours when it is desired the changes to be made.

The position of the cam arms 40 and 41 is shown in Figure 6, the cam arm 41 having its surface in contact with the roller 46 to exert a pressure thereon and swing the` switch lever 44a, the roller stud sliding in the slot 46. This movement pushes the stud to one end 'of the slot and the engagement of the other cam arm 40 .at a later period pushes the stud and roller back to their originalposition in the path ofthe arm 41. This .movement will be continued during the operation of the timer.

Referring to Figure 2, the dial. is shown with the numeral I set opposite the roller of the switch llever and indicatingl that 1t is one ocloclr A. M. by the time piece, the proper adjustment of the dial being effected by disengaging the post gear from its actuating pinion in the manner described and rotating the post and dial until the numeral on the dial opposite the' end of the switch lever corresponds to the time as indicated by the dial of the clock. When this has been done, the clock hands and the dial 34 may be said to synchronize and vwill work in unison and cause the switch operating arms to engage the switch lever at the predetermined periods governed by the adjustl ment of the hands -onthe face of the dial.

In Figures 7 and 8'1 have shown a circuit closing attachment comprising a spring arm 61 connected with the circuit closing bushing 10 and adapted to contact with the bushing 11 and provided with an insulating block 62 fitting within said bushing.v This sp1-111g is designed to close the circuit between the line and the day contact, when the cloclris removed from the thermostat, thus making the thermostatic control etl'ec` tive forday use and cutting out the night connections temporarily. As soon, however, as the clock is remounted on the thermostat, the day plug 43 will contact with the insulating block 62 and press it inwardly tothe position shown in Figure 9, separating the spring 61 from the bushing 11 and breaking the circuit between the bushings l0 and 11. The night circuit will thereupon again be effective, ready for operation when the circuit closing hand of the time piece reaches the point or time when the operator desires the circuit to be closed.

In adjusting the device, referring to Figure 2, I prefer .to mount an indicator 63 on the time piece frame opposite the end of the switch operating leverY 44a. Then when the dial is rotated with the numeral 1 set opposite this indicator, the person adjusting the instrument will know that the dial is set opposite or adjacent the end switch controlling lever 44a.

As stated above, the dial in Figure 2 is set to correspond with the time of the clock, one oclock A. M. Assuming now that the hand 36 is lset on numeral 8, it will be eight hours before this hand contacts with the switch lever and changes the circuit. This will be at eight oclock in the morning and of the the circuit will be changed from the -night l to the day thermostat. stat, will then control the circuits and the motor until eight P.' M. or the time for which the indicator hand 37 is set on the dial. At that time bythe clock the hand 37 will engage the switch lever and automatically shift the circuit from' the day to the night thermostat and this night thermostat will be in control of the circuits 'during f `the night and until eight A. M. the next morning, when a shift to the day thermo'- stat will take place. If for any reason the time piece stops or the hands become accidentally moved or need re-adjustment for the correct time, it is only necessary for the operator to disengage the post operating gear fromits actuating pinion when the dial 34 may be adjusted until its figures synchronize with the clock-hands and the operating gearing may be moved into reengagement and the automatic control of the. circuits and thermostats resumed. In this way I am able to regulate automatically the thermostatic circuits, shifting the control from one thermostatic bar to the other and adapting the instrument for day and night service.

This day thermo- I From the oregoing'description it will be understood that the break between the switch and contact points is instantaneous and there will be no appreciable period when the thermostats will be out of service. One or the other of them will be in the circuit substantially all the time. This will be found to be a decided advantage over slow moving cam' mechanisms and the like, Where one circuit is broken for a considerable period before the other is closed. v

Throughout the specification I have re, ferred to the day and night thermostats and day and night circuits. It will be under. stood that I do not confine the use of this device to such circuits, as the apparatus is applicable wherever it is desired to control a mechanism through one'thermostat for a predetermined period and then automatically shift to another thermostat for-another period of the same or different length than the iirst period, as circumstances may require or make desirable. For instance, one period may have a certain portion of the day and another period for the remainder of the day, or both periods may be during the night, or a lperiod may be partly by day and partly by night, the day and night arrangement being merely a feature of the device when used vfor house temperature control. For factories, kilns, retorts, and the like the lperiod of control may be of the same or different length and the changes take place at any desired time, regardless of whether itis day or night.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described comprising a base,y a thermostat at one end of said base, a second thermostat at the other end of saldbase, a motor, and a switch in circuit with said thermostats and disposed to oscillate between oppositelyI disposed con- ,tacts to make circuit with one thermostat and break circuit with the other, and' means for automatically operatin said switch to shift the circuit/from one t ermostat ,to the other' at predetermined times. f

2. A deviceof he class described comprising a motor, a thermostat incircuit with said motor, a second thermostat also in circuit with said motor, a switch disposed to oscillate between oppositely disposed contacts for controlling the circuits through said motor and one or the other of the thermostats, and a time piece having meansrfor operating said switch to close the circuits I through said thermostatsin alternation.

y 3. A-device of the class described comprising a motor, a thermostat in circuit with said motor, a second thermostat also. in circuit with said motor, a switch disposedto oscillate between oppositely disposed contacts for controllingl the circuits through said motor and two thermostats, and a time piece having means for operating said'switch means including a dial adapted for synchronous adjustment with the hands of the time piece, and means adjustable on said dial for engaging and operating said switch at predetermined intervals.

:4. A device of the class described comprising a motor, athermostat in circuit with said motor, a second thermostat also in circuit with said motor, a switch disposed to oscillate between oppositely disposed contactsl for controlling the circuits through said motor and two thermostats and a time piece having means for operating said switch to close the circuits through said thermostats alternately, said switch o eratmostats alternately, said switch operating ing means including a dial /having v gures dial and extending /around the periphery thereof and having cam surfaces for engaging and operating said switch at predetermined intervals.

v5. A device of the class'described comprising a motor, a thermostat in circuit with said motor, a. second thermostat incircuit withsaid motor, a switch disposed to oscillate' between oppositely disposed contacts for controlling the circuits through said motor and thermbstats, a time piece and indicator hands mounted to move synchronously with the hands of the time piece and having means for operating said switch to close the circuit alternately through said thermostats at predetermined intervals.

6. A deviceof the class described comprising a motor, a thermostat in circuit with said motor, a second thermostat in circuit with said motor, a time piece, a switch with said motor and thermostats and having an loperating lever, a switch dial having figures termined intervals to change the circuitI I through said thermostats.

7. A device of the class'described comprising a motor, a thermostat in circuit with said motor, a second thermostat in circuit with.

said motor, a time piece and a switch controlled by the movement of saidl time piece for changing th'e circuit from one thermostat to the other, saidtime piecev being re fmovably mounted on its support and having means for automatically closing the circuit through) one thermostat and cutting out l v*said other thermostat when the time piece said studs connected respectively with said thermostats and the line, the socket for one -thermostat having means forclosing'the circuit through said other thermostat and cutting out the companion-thermostat when theV time piece is removed, and said circuit closingmeans being actuated' by the plug of one circuit when the time piece is mounted on said-base for'breaking the circuit with said other service plug and directing the circuit through one thermostat. r

9. In a device of theclass described,v a thermostat, a second thermostat, a time piece,

I a switch for changing the circuit from one thermostat to the other, a switch dial operated from the time piece spring independently of the time piecehands and adapted toV rotate in unison with Said hands, means adjustable on said switch dial for automatil cally changing the, switch from one thermostat to the other at predetermined periods,

said switch` dial -being mounted for adjusti ment independently of the time piece hands .to revolve synchronously therewith, and electric circuits for said switch and thermo- 1 0. A device of the class `described comprising a motor, ak thermostat in` circuit therewith, a time piece, Va 'pinion `driven therefrom, a post having a 'gear meshing with said pinion and mounted for lo 'tudinal'movement to disengage said gear 1n said pinion, a dial mounted to revolve with said' post and having characters thereon corresponding to the characters of the time piece dial, said post and dial beingA normally revolved synchronously with the hands of the time piece, independent rotary adjust; .ment of said post and dial being when said 'geafi' 1s disengaged m said pinion, a' swltch in circuit with said thermostat and motor, and means adjustable on said post dial and revolving therewith to actuate said switch and change the circuit through said thermostat. Y Y

1 1. A device of the` class described comprising a motor, a thermostat in circuit with Y said motor, a secondthermostat in circuit with said motor Aa time piece a post geared maid time piee and mounds to be disentherefrom for independent rotary ad-Y '1, justment, a dial mounted onsaid post having Y characters' 00 Y Y ndingto the time piece dial and moun to revolve with said postY Vsynchronously with the handsof thetime Y piece, a switch 'for shifting the circuit from one thermostat to the other, and means mounted on said post dial and adjustable over the characters thereon and having means for operating said switch at predetermined intervals for changing the circuit romr one thermostat t9 the other thermostat- 12. A device of the class described comprising a base, a thermostatic bar thereon, and contact posts on opposite sides of said bar, a cam actuated device for shifting the position of said bar, a dial plate having graduations thereon normally oscillated by the movement of said cam device, and a normally stationary indicator, said ,dial plate being mounted for adjustment with respect Yto said indicator to permit adjustment of the thermostat without tion of said bar. l

13. Ina device Aof the class described, a thermostatic bar and contact post therefor, a dial having graduations, meansfor oscillating said bar and dial and means for moving said dial independently of said bar to adjust the thermostat Without changing the position of 'said bar.

A device of 'the class described comchanging the posia motor, a thermostat in circuit with said motor, a second thermostat in circuit with said motor and -means for automatically shifting the electric current from one- 'circuit to the other, said means including a switch mounted for instantaneous breaking operating said switch'to close the Vcircuits through said thermostats alternately, said switch operating 'means including a dial ada tedfor the ands of t e time piece, and m'eans adjustable onsaid dial for engaging and operating said switch at predetermined interval! 16. A deviceof t e class described com- .prising 'a motor, a thermostat in circuit chronous adjustment with L los therewith, a' second thermostat in circuit `with said motor, a switch for controlling the circuits through said motor and thermostats, and a time piece and indicator hands mounted tomove synchronously with the hands of the time piece and havin means for o ra said switch' to close' t e circuits a ter nate )tlnguglpsaid thermostats.

` In/wtness whereof, I `have hereunto setV this 20" day of A ril,1921.

my hand f FREDERICK DENISON.

1anl 

